Conductor for electric cars.



No. 821,317. PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

F. L. SESSIONS.

CONDUCTOR FOR BLGTRIC GARS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14. 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

a' r ..7 r L72 colwvefmffoz PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

F. L. SESSIONS. CONDUCTOR FOR ELECTRIC CARS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

' P. E SESSIONS.

OONDOOTON PON. NLEOTRIO ONSS.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

wml

APPLVIGATION FILED AUG.14, 1902.

LV1 lav. a.

FRANK L. SESS1()NS OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSltNOlt T() il'tvtllilll. Af JEFFREY, OF COLUMBUS, Olli() OGNDLJCTOR FOR ELECTFREC' Specification of Letters Patent.

Aeplientnn tiled Angus: 14,

Be it known thatl, FRANK li. Ssssroxs, a citizen el' the United States, residing at Coi lumbus, in the county of Franklin and State ofsOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conductors t'or Electric (lars, of which the following is a specification,

reference being had therein to the accomtion olI a mechanism embodyingmyimprove-v ments. Fig. .2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is a vie-w partly 'in end elevation and partly `in transverse section. Fig. 4 is a diagram- .matic illustration of one el' the uses to which the invention can be put. Figs. 5 to 8 show details.

ln the drawings 1 have selected a showing ol` parts olI a coal-mine (presented conveie tionally) as a convenient means i'or illustrating circuinstances and a place where the present invention can be atlvantagcously employed.

liet A indicate one oi' the main entries or l passage-ways which are in practically constant use and one or more ol' which extend to the. surl'ace ot the earth, as at'. (L. These main entries are. equipped with permanent rail-tracks, as indicated at A. From the main entries are carried to the right and to the lel't cross-entries or side entries, such as indicated at B, these being in more or less i continuous'use while that part ot' the coal area is being worked. such as shown at (l (V are turned tothe right or the le'l't. or both. The coal is mined at the inner ends ol' these rooms, extending them vl'arther and I'arther in the directions relative to the entries indicated by the arrow. 'l`he entries are equipped. with rail- From these, rooms l l l Patented May 22. 1906.

1902. Serial Nn, 119,667.

the main-entry track A and also connecting with branch tracks B 2, which extend into the several rooms. These latter tracks are extended gradually hy adding sections the rooms are respectively elongated by the taking out of the coal. Une olI the common practices is to provide each room with a coalcar, as illustrated at Dl), intowhich is loaned such coal as may be mined at the end ol` the room. 'lhen these individual and separated cars are Agathered---tliat isy lnought' out one by one from the rooms and coupled up to i'orm a train on the entry-track, either B3 or A', after which they are hauled te the mouth el the mine and emptied. After the coal has been exhausted trom that part of the territory which is reached by the eross-entry l and its connnunicating rooms that section oll the mine is for mest purposes abandone/dH and the mining operations are carried on along' other cross-entries and in the rooms communicating therewith.

In mines where electrical power is used for hauling t? .e oars and performing other opera.-y

tions it is the general practice to employ a, generating ap} aratus at suitable point outside of the mme, indicated at E, and to carry the current to the interior along an 111-,I

sulated conductor, as at e, and back tothe generator along the track-rails in the entries. The main entries are provided with permanently-tastened conductors, and leretot'ore it has been necessary to provide the cross-em tries and tl'e rooms with stationary conductors communicating with those in the main entry or entries. lhen wi en tiat; part, olE the mine worked out tiiese stationary rendueu tors and ti-eir numerous supports are removed and Aarrietl to some other part ol. the mine, imxsmucflas it' allowed to remain in position much ca )ital would be vtied u i there-bv l'or it will be remembered that many of these mines lave entries extending a mile or more under the earth. ll' the lateral or branching eomluctors are allowed to remain, they of course can be utilized upon such rare voccasions as may demand the presence el elecs trical conductors to permit the transporting ol electrical locomotives; but such infrequent occasions do not justify the holding oi' a large quantity ol' valuable conductors and conductor-hangers in position. Vfor brict use.

By means oi" the `improved mechanism tracks, as at B", connecting .ny switch with herein presented l amableto carry onthe on IDO entr at A.

respectively shown are indicated as beine' K i? the car G by connected with the axlesG o gearing at Q.

The current carried by one section of the conductor in the cable is taken through a circuit having the parts r, collector R, and brush R to a conductonsection r', which is connected to the translating device-as, for instance, to a motor or motors, such as those at P. F rom the latter it returns through the metal of the frame of the reel-as, for instance, from the bar O and sleeve-shaft S through the rod s to the negative wire terminal i', thence back through the return-wire to the return side of the circuit in the main Thus current is constantly supplie to the car-motors not only when the car is moving away from the fixed conductors and the cable is automatically paying out, but also as it returns toward them when the cable is being automatically reeled up.

It wlll now be seen by examining Fig. 4 that a mechanism of this sort can Without deending upn an expensive fixed conductor iie used at a relatively long distance down a side entry or cross-entry B or for entering a room, such as at C', and after coupling to the coal-car D for drawing the same into the cross-entry and after drawing out the desired number of such cars from the several rooms can draw the train formed thereof out to the main entry, depending at all times upon its own reeled section of conductor. After it reaches the main entry A the terminals of the cable are detached from the ixed conductors and the trolley X is again brought into use, the latter engaging with the conductor e, the branch circuit of the trolley being also connected to the motors.

Any well-known means may be employed for connecting the cable l into the electric circuit. For illustration I have shown in Fig. 7 a connecting-box, (indicated as awhole by'l.) t is a conductor leading from the conductor e to the positive connector-section t2 Within the hex, and t is a conductor grounding theI negative conneetor-section t to the track. The sections tz and t are so shaped and correlated as to form a socket t" for the plug U, in which the positive and negative wires of the cable l. terminate. rThis plug is formed with a posi- 'l`heinsertion of the "wire into and there-- for propelling the ear, the portable conductor on the car, the reel for winding the conductor, the vibratable frame for the reel,---the driving devices for rotating the reel ands:

adapted to engage wilh'one of the :ar-track wheels, the spring for forcing the driving devices toward said track-wheel, means for regulating the speed el the drum, and devices under the control of the operator for bringing alternately into play said speed-controlling devices and said spring, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in an electric locomotive, of a reel mounted on the frame thereof, a cable arranged to be wound upon said reel, means for throwing the reel in gear with a moving part of the locomotive so as to wind the cable on the reel, means independent of said first-descrilnd means and adapted to oppose the rotation of the reel in a direction to pay out the cable, and. means for opposing the operation of the first-described means and retaining the reel out of connection with the driving n'iechanism of the locomotive, and in engagement with the said means for opposing its rotation in cable-paying-out direction. 4

4. The combination of the car, the reelsha-ft mounted thereon, the reel on the said reel-shaft, the flexible cable carried by the reel, a train of power-transmitting devices interposed between said reel and a revolying part of Said car, and having in said train a yielding. connection, the elements of which are held in forced. engagement with each other independent of the draft on the cable, and means for thr'owing said power-transmitting devices into and out of operation at will.

5. The combination with an electric car and a cable-reel mounted. thereon, of a ilexible cable adapted tobe wound upon and paid Oil' from said reel, a train of power-translnitting devices interposed between said reel and a revolving part of said car, and having in said train two friction elements held in engagement with each other imlepemlent ofthe draft on the cable and adapted to malte the connection. between said reel and said revolve ing part of the car a yielding one and means for throwing said train of power-transmitting devices into and out of operation at will.

(i. The combination with a car and a eable-reel mounted thereon, of a flexible cable adapted to be wound upon and paid oil' from said reel, a train of power-transmitting devices interposed between said recl and a revolving part of the far, means for normally connecting said train of poWer-transmitting devices yieldingly with the said. reel indc pendeniy of the draft on said cable, and means vFor throwing said train of power-transmitting devices into and out of operation at will.

7. The. combinathm. with a car and a cablereel mounted thereon, of a flexible cable ble-reel mounted thereon, oi n train ol powerindependent of the draft on the cable, and a 'necting the power devices lrom thereel, and

ada ted to be wound upon and paid ell' from sai reel, a powe'edriven shait on the car, a train of power-transmitting devices intcrposed between said power-driven shaft and said cable-reel, and means for connecting said train of oww-transmitting devices with saidfreel an maintaining the connection independent ofthe draft on the cable and means for disconnecting two elements of said train of power-transmitting devices and locking` them in inactive relation to each other.

8. The combination with a car and e. cable reel mounted thereon, of a train. of power transmitting devices interposed between said cable-reel and a revolving shaft on the car, means for maintaining said. train of powertransmitting devices yieldingly in operative driving engagement between said shaft and said reel independent of the tension on the cable, and means for locking said train orn power-transmitting devices out of operative position.

9. In a mechanism for su plying current to an electric locomotive, tlie combination with an electric locomotive, oi a flexibleconn ductor, a reel for said flexible conductor movable with the locomotive, a train of powertransmitting devices for rotating said reel having in said train friction-driving elements held in forced engagement with each other friction-retarding device operable independently ol the draft on the cable to oppose the rotation oi the said rcel in cable-unwinding direction.

10. ln a mechanism for supplying a eurrent to an electric locomotive, thocoinbination of a car, a vflexible conductor, a reel for the flexible conductor movable with the ear, a friction-driver for the reel having,frictional surfaces forced together under substantially constant ressure independently of the dral't on the ca lle, power devices for actuating the friction-driver, and means for rendering the irictionsdriver inoperative at will.

11. The combination with a car and a catransmitting devices adapted to all'ord a yielding driving connection between one of the axles of said car and said reel and having in said train a spring-controlled friction-driving. element adapted to ,be maintained in forced engagement with its cooperating friction element independently of the dral't on the cable, and means operable at will for throwing said friction elements into and out of engagement with each other.

12. The combination of the car, the lexible conductor, the reel or Winding devices for the llexible conductor, the power-driven de vices for rotating the reel, means for discern means independent of the llexible conductor and engaging with the reel for controlling 1ts ,the tension on the cable s eed of rotation when subjected to draft by tie cable. f

13. 'The combination with the car, having track-engaging driving-wheels, the .electric motor connected to and rotating with said traclewheels, the flexible electric conductor adapted to be connected with a conductor remote. from the car, a reel for the said conductor, a friction-Wheel for rotating the reel and engaging with the periphery oi'the track-- wheel oi' the car, means for separatii the friction-wheel from thetrackwvheel, an friction devices supported rindel'rendentlv of the flexible conductor `and engaging with the reel l'or regulating its speed of rotation.;

14. The combination in an electric locomotive, of a cable-reel mounted on the frame thereof, a cable arranged to be Wound upon said' reel, means for throwing the vreel -mto and out Ioi gear with a movable part ofthe locomotive to wind the cable on the reel, Said means iincluding a friction-driving connecn tion, and means operable independently of tation of the reel. y 4 l The combination oi a car, a cable-.reel mounted thereon, 'a cable adapted to be 'wound upon said rcel, power-trans1nitting mechanism interposed between said reel and a revoluble part of the car, said reel being" normally maintained in frictional driving connection with said. train of poweitransxn1tting devices, independent of the tension on the cable, means for throwing said train of powertransmitting devices into and out of commis* sion, and a friction device adapted .to retard the rotation ol' said reel in the direction to pay ont the cable.

16. 'llie coml nation of a car, a flexible conductor, a reel or winding device for the' for opposing the ro-` IDO out of operation, and means independent of the cable and engaging witlrthe reel for controlling its unwmdmg movements when subjected to draft by the cable.

17. The combination or a car, a relatively stationary conductor, a flexible conductor carried by the car and adapted to have one end connected to the said statlonary conductor, a reel or winding device for the flexible' conductor, mver-transnnttmg' devices forrotating sai( reel, means for throwing said power-transmitting devices into and out of operation, and means inde endent of the` cable and independent of sai power-driven devices l'or controlling the speed of rotatibn of said reel in cablepaying-ont direction when subjected to draft by the cable.

i8. 'lbe combination of a car, a flexible conductor carriedby the car, a reel or winding' device for said flexible-conductor, power# driven devices for rotating the reel, and means independent of' tlie flexible conductor and. of said power-driven devices, for coi'itrollincr tbe sneed of rotation ol .said reel in cable-payingent direction.

l). rl`lie cmnbination ot' a car, supporting;- ivbeels tor tbe car. an electric motor adapted to rotate said wheels, a flexible conductor adapted to be connected to a conductor reinote Vtroni tne car, a reel tor tbe said conductor, `gearing For rotating`said reel in tbe direction for winding` up tlie flexible conductor thereon, nieans for throwingr said rearing into and out of operation, and a friction-retardingr device' for said reel supported inde- 'pendentliY ot' said flexible coiidtictor and en.- gaging directlyr witli tbe reel. i

20. The combination ol a car, a flexible cable, a inotor on tbe ear,a cable-Windinel reel, cable on said reel, comprising two insulated Wires, one Wire being` grounded to said drain, and tbe other wire extendingT through the insulated linbon said drinn, and eleetricalli` connected vitli a,collector-ring; on tbe drinn, a briisli engaging with said collector-ring, and an electric conductor leading' troni said brnsli to tbe niet-or on the loconiotive.. l

2l. ne combination of' a car having snpporting-Wlieels, a. niotor on the carv adapted to drive certain of' said siipporting-wheels, a cable-reel, a flexible conductor adapted to be wound upon and paid ont from said cablerecl, an electric conductor connecting said llexible conductor to tlie inotor on tbe car, a bodily-adjnstable wlieel adapted to ci'igag'e Witli. a surface .vliicl'i will eflect tbe rotation ol tbe said wbeel as tbe car travels in. tbe direction to wind up tbe paid-ont flexible conductor, and nower-transinitting devices interposed between said bodily-movable wheel and tlie cable-reel, adai'ited to remain in operative relation to said wlieel as it is inoved into and out ot operative position.

Tlie combination of a ear having supporting-Wheels, a motor on tbe, car adapted to drivel certain of' said sannorting-wbeels, a cable-reid, a flexible conductor adapted to be wound anon and paid ont l'roni said cablercel, an electric conductor connecting said vfle4 le conductor to die inotor on tbe ear7 a bodilj,'--adjestable n'iieel adapted to engage witli a snrl'ace wliicli will efl'ect theI rotation of' tbe said vrlieel as tbe car travels in the direction to wind up tbe paid-ont flexible conductor, ineans l'or normallyv holding said bodliv-movable wlicel lvieldine'lv in engage,- nient witb its ac..natin -s\|rf'ace, and powertranL-inittinej devices interposed between ,said lodil v-niovable ivbeel and tlie cablereel adapted lo reinain in operative relation to said wlieel as it. is nioved into and ont of' operative nosiliort 22% 'lllie combination of a car liavini;v snpnortii `v`lieeis, a inotor onv tbe car adapted snpporting-wheels, a

cable-reel, a flexible conductor adapted to be wound upon and paid out trom said cablereel, an electric eoiuluctor connecting said flexible conductor to the inotor on tl'ie car, a vertical-lv-adjustable Wheel adapted to engage with a. surface which will etl'ect the rotation ol the said Wheel as tbe car travels in the direction to wind up tbe paid-out flexible conductor, and power-transmitting devices interposed between said bodily-nievable wheel and the cable-reel, adapted to remain. in operative relation to said Wheel as it is inoved into and ont ol. operative posit-ion.

124. The combination o a car liaviner stip- ])oitii'ig-wbeels, a inotor on tlie car adapted to drive certain ol said snpporting-ivlieels, a cable-reel, a `flexible conductor adapted tobe vfonnd upon and paid out l'roni said cablereol, an. electric conductor connecting` said flexible conductor to tbe inotor on tlie car7 a bodilv-adjustable Wlieel adapted to engage ii'itli a surface ivliicli will ell'ect tbe rotation ot' tbc said ivlieel as tire car travels in tlie. direction of tbe paid-ont flexible eon lirctor, a Wheel connected to tbe said cable-reel, and power-t 1ansniittingr incanfbetween tbe said bodily-ailjustable wbe'el and tlze said wbee'l connected to tbe cable-reel.

"25. The combination of a car having snpnortinlr-wlieels, a inotor on tlie car adapted to drive certain of said supportinir-wheels, a :able-reel` a flexible conductor adapted to be Wound upon and paid out from said cablereel, an electric conductor onnecting' said flexible conductor to tbe inotor on tlie car, a bodily-adjnstal lc ivbeel adapted to engage with a surface wliicb will'efl'ect tbe rotation of the, said wheel as 'tbe car travels in tbe direction ol' tbe. pain-ont flexible conductor, a Wheel `-onnecte l to tbe said cable-reel, poWer-transniitting means between said bodily-adjnstable wheel and tbe said wbeel connected to tbe cable-reel, and a 'brakeadapted to engage said :able-reel in order to prevent too rapid rotation olI tbe said reel as tbe cable is paid out tlieref'roin.

26; rl`lie combination ol' a car liavincr supporting-wheels, a niotor on tlie car adapted to drive certain ot said supporting-wheels, a cable-reel, a flexible conductor adapted to be Wound upon and paid ontl'roin said cablereel, an electric conductor connectincr said flexible conductor to tbe niotor on tlie car, a bodily-adjustable wlieel adapted to engagel witli a snrtace wliicli will efl'ect the rotation oi" tlie said wheel as tbe. car travels in tbe direction of tbe paid-ont flexible conductor, a wlieel connected to tliesaid able-reel, powertransmittingmeans between tbe said bodilyadinstable wlieel and tlie said wlieel connected to tbe. cable-rcel, and means l'or moving said bodily-adjilstable wheel ont ol" engage,- nient with tlie siirl'ace wliicli is adapted to cause its rotation, tbe said [mwer-transinitting nieans being adapted to swing with tbe.

lOO

XID

said b0diiy-adjnstsb1e Wheel es it moved into and out oi engagement with vthe snxf'eee which is wiepted to ei'eet its rotation.

27. The combination of e our, e cebiereei on the ear, @flexible conductor adapted to be Wound upon and paid. out from the seid`l reel, means 'for driving seid reeLsaid ineens ineluding 'frietioned'riving elements normally 'mein-- tained in oreed. Contact with est-ch other, independen tly oi the tension upon the said fiexible conductor, and means i'or throwing seid ,Teelt-driving means inte and out operation The combination oi :it eer', n onlne-ree] on the cer, e iiexibie conductor adapted to be wound upon end paid ont troni said reel, i'ricH tionni driving elements 'for eieeting the roten tion ofthe reel n orrn sii); ineintainmi in foreed contact with each other, ind ependentiy of the tension on said flexible conductor, and s fric tion-retarding device adapted to resist the ro tation of seid. reel when the ear moved in. one direction. t

29. The combination of e1 ein', s eeble-reei on the eer, a. fiexibie conduct r adopted to be Wound upon and piti/l ont- "rom theseid reei, irietionai power-tiranemitting devices inter-- posed between seid reel end arevolunle part of the eer, the elements of said irietion-Agenr ing being normniy heid. in force-,d contant with, each other, means Afor throwing; seid. reei dri ving lneohenisi'n into and out oi opere/tion, and e iirietimi-reterf.ting devine @dented to resist the rotation of the reel wim; the eebie is paid ont therefrom, independentiy of the ten sion. on the noble.

30. The combination oi a cer, having sin;- porting whe 1s and axles, a, reei carried by the enr, a -iexibie condnetor having one end ettuched to the reel, and. the other adapted to be attached to e fixed point, e trein oi power transmitting devices interposed between one of said canaxies and seid reel, and having' 'frietion-drivinv elements normally heid in forced contest with eeen other, means for actuating said train of power-transmitting; fievices when the ein" moves toward the seid fixed point, and e, irietioi'iai :.ieviee errztngeti independently o1 the seid. iiexiiiie 'conductor and adapten to resist the rotation o1 the seid reci when tile eer nieves away from seid, 'fixed point,

- 3i. The combination of a oer having snpporting Wheeis and axles, e, onine-reel carried ,sie

when the vehicle inoves toward the ixed eon ductor, and ineens for disconnecting seid driving means from sind une at will.

32. Theeeinbinetion of e can", n ostile-resi on the eer, e iexibie. cond noter adapted to ne wound upon and paid out iron'i seid reel, frictioifdriving eeinents for impzrting rotation to the seid ieei, normally heid in foroeti engegeinent with enen other independently oi fthe tension on 'tine iiexibie conductos', Ineens for actuating seid frictionai driving eieinents when the vehicle moves in e direction to wind njmthe cable, and ineens seperate from smi indenenden't*oic seit] friction-driving ele- 'ients for iric'tioneily resisting the rotation oi' the seid resi when ine Vehieie .moves in. the opposite direction.

3B. The combination of e eer, a, Gaiole-resi carried thereby, e iexible conductor on 'the seid onble-ree1, ineens 'for securing one end oi said iexibie c-oncinetor to e tilted conductor, ineens adopted to rotate the seid ea.bie-reei comprising 'ffietioneiy-engaging eiements which ioreed together with e I which is independent. of the draft on the iiexifbie eoniiuotor, :find ineens for throwing seid reel-roten ineens intoend out oi operation.

The combination ei s cer, nl cable-reel eerried thereby, iiexibie conductor on. the seid esbie-reei, Ineens for securing one end of seid exibie conductor to e fixed. conductor, adapted to rotate vthe seid eabie-reei eoniprising iietionaiiy-engegiig elements which are forced together with e pressure which independent oi the draft on the iexi- Die conductor, Ineens for throwing seid' reeirotating means into and out of operation, end irietion devices independent of seid reei-ro tnting devices for resi xiv the rotation oi' the re'ei wire ee'ne een), ther-ehem.

n t nony whereof l X my signetnie in presence of two Wisner-Tees.r

FRANK L; SESSGNS.

Witnesses l i?. (l. Cosne,

Cime. M. Connnn pressure IOC 

